Cleaning & waxing your new GS
#1
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Cleaning & waxing your new GS
I've posted a similar message on the detailing forum with no responses, so I thought I would try here. I'm making plans for caring for the mercury metallic (silver) finish on my GS300 and I'm curious how you're waxing your GS's finish.
When I receive the car I'm planning on using Mequiar's Deep Crystal or Medallion Premium to first clean the paint. I'm also going to use Meguiar's NXT wash and wax products. I've seen the prep work by my dealer and it looks very good, so I'm not planning on claying.
Thanks for your comments.
When I receive the car I'm planning on using Mequiar's Deep Crystal or Medallion Premium to first clean the paint. I'm also going to use Meguiar's NXT wash and wax products. I've seen the prep work by my dealer and it looks very good, so I'm not planning on claying.
Thanks for your comments.
#3
Originally Posted by DaveJ
I've posted a similar message on the detailing forum with no responses, so I thought I would try here. I'm making plans for caring for the mercury metallic (silver) finish on my GS300 and I'm curious how you're waxing your GS's finish.
When I receive the car I'm planning on using Mequiar's Deep Crystal or Medallion Premium to first clean the paint. I'm also going to use Meguiar's NXT wash and wax products. I've seen the prep work by my dealer and it looks very good, so I'm not planning on claying.
Thanks for your comments.
When I receive the car I'm planning on using Mequiar's Deep Crystal or Medallion Premium to first clean the paint. I'm also going to use Meguiar's NXT wash and wax products. I've seen the prep work by my dealer and it looks very good, so I'm not planning on claying.
Thanks for your comments.
here are the results I posted a few weeks ago on my gs430 http://autopia.org/forums/showthread...threadid=53173
keep in mind that claying is not necessarily related to looks, it is for removing dirt particles that have embedded themselves into the paint itself. if after washing, when you run your hand lightly over the surface of the paint, if you still feel a slight roughness to the paint then you will need to clay. after claying, the paint should feel like extremely smooth glass.
#5
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Zaino is good, but if you want good protection and nice shine in an easier to use (i.e. less time consuming) application, give Klasse a try. They offer two products, an All-in-One and a Sealant Glaze. I usually use the All-in-One during the summer and apply a couple coats of the Sealant Glaze on top of the All-in-One for Winter protection.
Last edited by jwaters; 04-13-05 at 11:28 AM.
#6
Originally Posted by DaveJ
toyemp,
The finish on your GS is fantastic! Are the products you referenced made by Zaino?
Thanks.
The finish on your GS is fantastic! Are the products you referenced made by Zaino?
Thanks.
#80 is Meguiar's Speed Glaze
#20 is Meguiar's Polymer Sealant
#26 is Meguiar's Hi-Tech Yellow Wax
I like to experiment with different polishes and waxes but I have all of Meguiar's professional line in my inventory. I also have the entire Mother's, Klasse, Poorboys and P21s lines with ClearKote on the way.
I started out years ago using the Meguiars consumer line (Deep Crystal) but knowing what I know now, you can get much better results using other higher-end products and usually the higher end products are easier to use also!
#7
Toyemp, that finish definitely looks awesome. Great looking ride.
When I bought my GS300, by the time the Finance guy was through with me he had sold me on something called the "1st Place Finish". Basically it's a paint sealant treatment on the exterior and leather and fabric protection of some kind on the interior. The paint sealant is guaranteed against water spots, bird droppings, fading, etc. The other selling point was that it needed no waxing, in fact "wax would just slide right off of it".
I never buy that kind of stuff, but the guy did a great job of convincing me that a dark car like the Flint Mica needed something like that to help keep it looking good. The other factor is that I simply don't have a lot of spare time to spend detailing the car. If this stuff gives some kind of edge in keeping it looking good, then it was worth it for me. So here's the question:
Did I get completely snookered, or is there some value in something like that? Having young kids, I definitely wanted some kind of protection for the interior. But I am more than curious about whether this stuff is of any value on the exterior.
When I bought my GS300, by the time the Finance guy was through with me he had sold me on something called the "1st Place Finish". Basically it's a paint sealant treatment on the exterior and leather and fabric protection of some kind on the interior. The paint sealant is guaranteed against water spots, bird droppings, fading, etc. The other selling point was that it needed no waxing, in fact "wax would just slide right off of it".
I never buy that kind of stuff, but the guy did a great job of convincing me that a dark car like the Flint Mica needed something like that to help keep it looking good. The other factor is that I simply don't have a lot of spare time to spend detailing the car. If this stuff gives some kind of edge in keeping it looking good, then it was worth it for me. So here's the question:
Did I get completely snookered, or is there some value in something like that? Having young kids, I definitely wanted some kind of protection for the interior. But I am more than curious about whether this stuff is of any value on the exterior.
Last edited by longjohn; 04-13-05 at 03:16 PM.
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#8
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Originally Posted by toyemp
Actually, all of the products I listed are part of Meguiar's professional line.
#80 is Meguiar's Speed Glaze
#20 is Meguiar's Polymer Sealant
#26 is Meguiar's Hi-Tech Yellow Wax
I like to experiment with different polishes and waxes but I have all of Meguiar's professional line in my inventory. I also have the entire Mother's, Klasse, Poorboys and P21s lines with ClearKote on the way.
I started out years ago using the Meguiars consumer line (Deep Crystal) but knowing what I know now, you can get much better results using other higher-end products and usually the higher end products are easier to use also!
#80 is Meguiar's Speed Glaze
#20 is Meguiar's Polymer Sealant
#26 is Meguiar's Hi-Tech Yellow Wax
I like to experiment with different polishes and waxes but I have all of Meguiar's professional line in my inventory. I also have the entire Mother's, Klasse, Poorboys and P21s lines with ClearKote on the way.
I started out years ago using the Meguiars consumer line (Deep Crystal) but knowing what I know now, you can get much better results using other higher-end products and usually the higher end products are easier to use also!
As Toyemp stated, he clayed his car first and then polished it. Even though the car is brand new, there is a lot of junk that gets on the paint during transit from Japan. Claying will remove any contaminants that are on the paint. Then you polish to get rid of any swirl marks, spider webs, and scratches that might have damaged the paint during transit or while claying. Once the paint is cleaned up then you go to the steps outlined by Toyemp and I to protect the paint.
#9
MultiTasking Mom
Originally Posted by longjohn
So here's the question:
Did I get completely snookered, or is there some value in something like that? Having young kids, I definitely wanted some kind of protection for the interior. But I am more than curious about whether this stuff is of any value on the exterior.
Did I get completely snookered, or is there some value in something like that? Having young kids, I definitely wanted some kind of protection for the interior. But I am more than curious about whether this stuff is of any value on the exterior.
so now i resort to doing a professional int/ext detail every 6 months instead of spending the money at the dealer. the sealant won't last 5 years or however long they say, i don't think mine lasted much longer than 4-5 months . . . maybe things are different now? and flint mica should hide swirls much better than black.
toyemp - beautiful car!
#11
Originally Posted by longjohn
Toyemp, that finish definitely looks awesome. Great looking ride.
When I bought my GS300, by the time the Finance guy was through with me he had sold me on something called the "1st Place Finish". Basically it's a paint sealant treatment on the exterior and leather and fabric protection of some kind on the interior. The paint sealant is guaranteed against water spots, bird droppings, fading, etc. The other selling point was that it needed no waxing, in fact "wax would just slide right off of it".
I never buy that kind of stuff, but the guy did a great job of convincing me that a dark car like the Flint Mica needed something like that to help keep it looking good. The other factor is that I simply don't have a lot of spare time to spend detailing the car. If this stuff gives some kind of edge in keeping it looking good, then it was worth it for me. So here's the question:
Did I get completely snookered, or is there some value in something like that? Having young kids, I definitely wanted some kind of protection for the interior. But I am more than curious about whether this stuff is of any value on the exterior.
When I bought my GS300, by the time the Finance guy was through with me he had sold me on something called the "1st Place Finish". Basically it's a paint sealant treatment on the exterior and leather and fabric protection of some kind on the interior. The paint sealant is guaranteed against water spots, bird droppings, fading, etc. The other selling point was that it needed no waxing, in fact "wax would just slide right off of it".
I never buy that kind of stuff, but the guy did a great job of convincing me that a dark car like the Flint Mica needed something like that to help keep it looking good. The other factor is that I simply don't have a lot of spare time to spend detailing the car. If this stuff gives some kind of edge in keeping it looking good, then it was worth it for me. So here's the question:
Did I get completely snookered, or is there some value in something like that? Having young kids, I definitely wanted some kind of protection for the interior. But I am more than curious about whether this stuff is of any value on the exterior.
#12
Originally Posted by DaveJ
toyemp, what did you use to clay the finish?
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
If you are looking to purchase something locally over-the-counter, both Meguiar's, Clay Magic and Mothers are probably the easiest to find in stores. I prefer the Clay Magic given a choice between those 3.
#13
Originally Posted by LB Lex
I tried a similar combo before and got good results, but just recently I tried Klass AIO + Poorboy's EX-P, and Meguiar's #16. The car looks fabulous considering it's silver. Klass puts down a very very durable coat of acrylic, which will protect the paint. Then I switched from #20 to EX-P because you can layer it (#20 has cleaners, so when you layer it, it removes the layer you put beneath it. There is debate over whether EX-P is layerable, but the consensus says yes and my experience is yes too). Ex-P and #20 are polymer waxes, which is a synthetic wax that is very durable. It gives the paint a somewhat plasticky look to it. It's kind of hard to explain, but it provides a great shine and some people use it as the final step. Then I topped it off with #16, which is one of the best carnuba waxes. This coat makes the paint really shiny and slick. Pretty much any carnuba wax WITHOUT any cleaners will do. This combo makes silver paint "pop" by bringing out the metalic flakes, but the paint has to be in good condition.
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I just recently started using EXP on some of my cars, but haven't decided if I like it or not.
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